How to remove glue stains from clothes

by Abbas Jahangir · July 10, 2024

A glue stain on clothing can be removed at home using various improvised means, both chemical and food. The type of glue stain and fabric determines the method of its removal.

General recommendations

The most important rule: try to clean glue off clothes immediately. Old stains are much more difficult to remove.

Any glue that gets on your clothes should be immediately blotted with a napkin, paper towel or soft cloth. Remove any residue with a toothpick, knife or nail file. Be careful when using them to avoid cutting or snagging the fabric.
Test the effect of the selected substances on an inconspicuous area of the product (collar on the reverse side, seams). Fabric fibers may be damaged by exposure to chemicals.
If it is not possible to remove the glue from the clothes immediately, it is better to wet the stained part with water, this will prevent it from drying.
Mechanical removal of glue (except Titan) should be used only after preliminary processing (freezing, heating, application of alcohol, acetone, etc.)
Before using any method to remove adhesive stains, you need to read the recommendations for caring for the material.

The components of the glue determine its properties: drying time, water and moisture resistance, viscosity, etc. These qualities help determine how quickly and effortlessly it will be possible to clean things from it.

Removing Super Glue Stains

It dries quickly and bonds reliably to almost all surfaces. Its stains or excess can be removed using anti-glue, strong solvents, vinegar, citric acid, nail polish remover, freezing and heating.

Anti-glue, refined gasoline, paint thinners

Antikley can be purchased at building materials stores. Apply 1-2 drops to glue marks and wipe with a paper napkin after 5-10 minutes.

White spirit, acetone, kerosene are used on uncolored cotton and linen fabrics. Their use on wool, velvet, silk and synthetic fabrics is excluded. Thin synthetics can dissolve under their influence.

Soak a soft cloth in one of the selected substances.
Wipe the dirt with it.
Wait 20-30 minutes.
Wash the item as usual.

It is permissible to repeat the procedure no more than 2-3 times for an old stain. If most of the dirt has been removed, it is better to try to wash off the glue by hand. This will prevent damage to the fabric.

Note: Acetone is effective, but it may sometimes leave yellow stains.

Vinegar

Suitable for removing adhesive stains even from delicate fabrics, but not suitable for denim.

Dilute one tablespoon of vinegar in warm water (one glass).
Soak a soft cloth in the resulting solution and place it on the adhesive mark.
After 20-30 minutes, remove the dissolved glue with a napkin. You can soak the product in this solution for half an hour.
Then wash as usual.

Nail polish remover / acrylic nail softener

Soak a soft cloth in one of the selected products.
Treat the part of the item stained with superglue.
After 20-30 minutes, clean the stain with the hard side of a dishwashing sponge.
Wash the item as usual.

When working with delicate fabrics, it is better to use a non-acetone based liquid.

Dishwashing liquid will help get rid of greasy stains that may remain after removing the adhesive residue.

Exposure to high or low temperatures

There are two effective ways:

Apply a hot iron to the superglue mark on the back of the item through gauze or a soft cloth for a split second. Apply the iron again after half a minute. Repeat two or three times. Remove the glue residue mechanically – rub with your hands, a toothbrush or the hard side of a sponge.
Keep the stained clothes in the freezer for 1-1.5 hours. Remove and rub the glue stain with your hands or a toothbrush with medium bristles. Freezing causes the glue to crumble and easily peel off the fabric. Wash the clothes. Several washes will be required to completely remove the stain. The freezing method is also applicable to delicate fabrics (organza, silk, viscose).

Citric acid, dimexide, whiteness, powder

Here are a few more ways to remove superglue stains from clothing:

Dissolve citric acid (20 g) in warm water (half a glass). Apply the resulting solution to the adhesive marks with a soft cloth. After 5-10 minutes, rub the stain with a hard sponge and wash the item.
A nail file is suitable for removing glue from suede or leather items. Simply move it in light circular motions over the contaminated surface.
Dimexide (a medicine for treating bruises and purulent wounds, sold in pharmacies) allows you to get rid of glue stains from any type of fabric. Wipe the contaminated areas with a soft cloth soaked in a solution of dimexide (2 tablespoons) and room temperature water (half a glass). Wash the item after 10-15 minutes.
Bleach is applicable to white things. Apply the product to the glue stain and rub it with a cotton cloth. A sponge will not work, its small fibers will cling to the glue.

Removing traces of silicate or wallpaper glue

Silicate or wallpaper glue can be removed from clothing using detergents such as:

Soda and laundry soap

Add two tablespoons of soda to one liter of warm water.
It is good to soap the glue stain with regular laundry soap.
Place the soapy part of the clothing in the soda solution and leave for 40-50 minutes.
Hand or machine wash.

For suede items you need to use a special shampoo or soap.

Washing powder

Dissolve 200 g of powder in 4 liters of warm water.
Leave the stained item in this solution for 3 hours.
Afterwards, squeeze it out well and try to remove the dirt with the hard side of a sponge or a medium-hard toothbrush.

Or rub the stained area of the item with laundry soap and soak it in warm water for 4-6 hours. Then wash.

Removing stationery marks

Stationery glue can be removed from clothes with laundry soap. Rub the soiled area generously with soap by hand or with a brush. Then wash the clothes by hand or in a washing machine.

What to do with a PVA glue stain

It is easy to wash off a fresh trace of PVA glue from clothes by washing with laundry soap. Or hold the dirty part of the clothes that is not afraid of high temperatures under a stream of hot water with the back side. After 20-30 minutes, the glue will come off the fabric.

An old stain on cotton, linen or denim fabrics will disappear if you wipe it with a cotton cloth soaked in alcohol.

A stain from PVA glue on a suede product must first be held over steam for 5-7 minutes, and then carefully remove the stain with a paper towel or napkin soaked in ammonia.

The freezing method is also suitable for delicate fabrics. Place the clothes in a bag in the freezer for 1-1.5 hours. Then carefully clean the glue from the material with your hands, which has become brittle from the cold.

Wood glue

Wood glue can be removed from clothing by soaking the garment or the stained part in cold water for a day (12 hours). Then machine or hand wash. Brush off any remaining stains and wash again.

It can also be removed with laundry soap. Soap the stained area well and soak it in warm water for half a day. Then simply wash it.

Casein

Stains from it can be removed with glycerin and ammonia.

A cotton pad is soaked in glycerin, heated in a water bath.
They carefully wipe the glue stain with it.
After 1-1.5 hours, wash off with a solution of warm water (0.5 liters) and ammonia (1 tablespoon). Then repeat the procedure and wash the item.

Textile adhesive

Easily washed off from fabric with regular laundry soap and warm water.

To remove traces of decoupage glue, any solvent, white spirit or gasoline will do. It is recommended to use chemicals with caution, because their aggressive effect can damage fabric fibers.

What will help dissolve epoxy glue

Alcohol

Carefully remove any large traces of glue with a knife, spoon or nail file.
Wipe the dried stain with a rag or cotton-gauze swab soaked in alcohol.

Turpentine

Apply to stain and leave for 7-10 minutes.
Then use a soft bristle brush to rub the glue stain.
Wash the item with powder and add fabric softener, which will help get rid of the characteristic pungent smell of turpentine.
An old stain can be removed with a mixture of alcohol (teaspoon) + pharmacy turpentine (teaspoon). Also, first apply the solution to the stain, wait 5-8 minutes, and gently rub with a brush.

Ironing

Place a plain cloth or paper towel under the stain on the reverse side of the garment. Iron the stained area from the reverse side. The glue will melt and be absorbed into the backing. Remove any remaining light stains by wiping with a sponge soaked in alcohol. Then wash on a standard cycle.

Hot melt glue

Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) is applied to the stain with a cotton swab. The glue softens, allowing it to be separated from the fabric. The following methods are also suitable:

Freezing in the freezer. The low temperature makes the hot melt adhesive brittle and can be scraped off with a spoon or a sandwich knife.
heating with an iron. Place a cotton cloth on the stained area and iron without steam for 7-15 seconds. When you lift the patch, you can see that the glue has started to transfer to it. Repeat ironing until it has completely transferred to the backing.

Titanium

This type of glue can be removed from the fabric by mechanical action.

Place the stained area on a hard surface.
Place gauze or a paper towel over the glue stain.
Tap the hardened glue with the handle of a knife or a hammer.
Remove any remaining residue with a nail file.

Getting rid of glue from fabric at home is quite easy and safe. But when choosing a method, you need to consider the type of material and brand of glue. If the methods are ineffective or you are not sure about the safety of the chosen method, then you should contact a dry cleaner.